Distributing and venting header



Sept. 15, 1953 H. M. GOHEEN DISTRIBUTING AND VENTING HEADER 7 Filed May 26, 1947 F BV 7 JTInn IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a distributing and venting header adapted for use in distributing liquid through a plurality of delivery pipes and venting gaseous material from the liquid. The invention is particularly adapted for use in hot water heating systems in which the hot water is delivered to radiators and then returned to the boiler where it is re-heated. In hot water heating systems, as now installed, it is a practice to install venting valves in the delivery pipes and sometimes at the radiators in order to permit the gas to escape. Experience has shown, however, such cations for the venting valves are not the most eflicient, consequently the valves frequently fail to perform their intended function.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a venting header and distributor so constructed and arranged as to permit a venting valve connected therewith to vent all air and gas from the liquid lines and prevent delivery of the same beyond the header.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a structure of this type which will make it possible to eliminate large piping, large mains, branches, and large elbows on distributing pipes heretofore employed in hot water heating systems wherein the radiators were connected in series.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved distributing and venting header particularly adapted for use with a hot water heating system, which header encloses a relatively large expansion chamber having a plurality of symmetrically arranged openings communicating with the interior of said chamber through which the water is adapted to be circulated to and from said chamber, together with an opening which communicates with the top of said chamber for the connection of a venting device such as a valve or a pipe leading to the expansion tank of the hot water heating system through which opening any gas collected in said chamber will be quickly discharged and whereby the firstmentioned openings will always be completely submerged in the water contained in the chamher.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a header of the type described of symmetrical construction so that the various openings through which the water circulates may be used with equal facility whether the header is to be used as a distributor in the supply lines leading from the hot water heating tank or boiler to the radiators, or as a collector in the return 2 lines leading from the radiators back to the boiler, and so that as a result of the symmetrical construction the header may be used either in what may be termed an lip-feeding or downfeeding position and may be connected in a heating system in series with other headers.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention itself and it is intended that such shall be embraced within the scope of the claims which form a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention showing it attached for use,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the invention with parts broken away and parts shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3'3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3 with parts broken away and parts removed.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises a header or water container 1 having a longitudinally extended rib 8 on the outer face of each of the sides. Formed in the top of the container or header is an internally threaded feeding opening 9 and a similar internally threaded feeding opening I0 is formed in the bottom of the container or header. Formed through the ribs 8 is a plurality of spaced apart internally threaded distributing openings II which are inclined outwardly and away from one of the sides. Secured in each of these openings II is a nipple l2 to which is secured a delivery pipe l3 for delivering hot water to a radiator '23, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is obvious that if it is not desired to use all of the internally threaded openings I l, those which are not in use may be closed by a suitable plug.

Formed in one of the ends of this container or header is a pair of spaced apart internally threaded main openings I5 and [6, one of which is above the other. In the construction shown, a delivery pipe [4 is threaded into the opening l5 and the opening I6 is closed by a suitable plug l1. This pipe [4 communicates with the hot water boiler 24 and serves to deliver the hot water from the boiler to the header or container 1. This water in turn is delivered by the pipes 13 to the radiators 23 from which it returns to the boiler 24. The opening H) is preferably in alignment with the opening 9 and in the form shown is internally threaded for reception of a plug [9. The opening 9 is internally threaded for reception of the neck 2| of a suitable air venting valve 22. Since this air venting valve 22 forms no part of the present invention and is of a construction well known, a, description of the detailed structure of the air venting valve is not given.

As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the header encloses an expansion chamber of generally elliptical crosssectional configuration considered both longitudinally as shown in Fig. 2 or transversely as shown in Fig. 3, the cross-sectional area of which is much greater than the combined cross-sectional area of the various openings in the walls thereof. The provision of this expansion chamber effects a reduction in the velocity of the water which enters the header through the pipe [4 and this, together with the fact that the distributing openings II are positioned at a lower level than the main inlet opening [5, permits and insures that any gas entrained in the water will rise to the dome-shaped top of the chamber and be eliminated by passing through the venting opening 9 and valve 22 associated therewith. Thus, the main and distributing opening will normally be completely submerged under water and the water leaving the chamber through the distributing openings will be free of entrained gas.

The header of the present invention is of symmetric configuration particularly with regard to the location of the various openings provided in its side walls. This feature can be clearly seen from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3. The main openings i5 and 16 are spaced substantially equi-distant above and below the horizontal central plane of the expansion chamber; the centers of the inner ends of the distributing openings I I lie at a level substantially midway between the levels of the main openings l5 and i6 or substantially in said horizontal central plane of the expansion chamber; and the venting openings 3 and IE1 are symmetrically arranged across the widest portion of the expansion chamber.

When it is desired to use the header as a distributor in the supply line from the hot water boiler to the radiators, convectors, or other heating elements of a hot water heating system, a v

pipe such as [4 leading from the boiler is connected to the threaded opening [5 and one or more pipes l3 are connected to the inclined side distributing openings 1!, depending upon the number of heating units to which the heated water is to be distributed from the header.

When the header is used as a collector in the return lines from the heating units to the boiler, the return lines from the radiators will be connected to the distributing openings of the header and as this return water enters the large expansion chamber, the velocity of its flow will likewise be reduced so as to permit any entrained gas to rise to the domed top of the header to be permitted to escape through the venting opening 9 of the header.

Where a large number of radiators and supply lines are needed, two or more distributors of the present invention may be connected in series in which event the closure plug I! would be removed from the lower main opening [6 and one end of a pipe such as the pipe l4 would be connected thereto, it being understood that the other end of such pipe would be connected to the upper main opening l5 of a second header.

Because of the fact that the header of the present invention may be connected relatively close to the hot water heating boiler or tank and separate or individual pipes run directly from the header to the heating units in the supply line, and likewise, individual return lines from the heating units may be connected directly to the header used as a collector in the return line, much smaller diameter pipes or tubing may be used in place of the large diameter pipes such as heretofore employed in hot water heating systems and therefore large expensive main fittings may thus be eliminated. By having the distributing openings inclined, as shown in Fig. 3, the connections to the header of the supply or return lines leading to or from the heating units may obviously be made in such a way as to avoid any abrupt right-angle bends or turns in such pipes, thus insuring a freer flow of the water. In the drawings, the header is illustrated in what is known as an up-feeding position, that is with its distributing openings inclined upwardly to facilitate the flow of water in the general direction desired. Were the header to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, the venting valve 22 connected to the venting opening I!) and the main supply pipe [4 connected to the main opening N3, the distributing openings would be inclined downwardly and the header then employed in what is termed a down-feeding position.

In the installation shown, I have indicated the invention used on an up-feeding system. Should it be desired to use this header on a down feeding, it would be but necessary to invert the header and remove the plug I9 and replace it with the neck 2!, placing the plug IS in the threaded opening iii. The pipe I 4 would then be secured in the threaded opening 16 and the plug I! would be secured in the threaded opening i 5 so that the opening I!) would be on top and the opening 9 would be on the bottom. This would incline the pipes l3 downwardly instead of upwardly while, at the same time, the outlet of these pipes would be below the inlet and below the normal water level and below the point of venting the air and gas therefrom so that all of the desirable features can be obtained whether the invention is used for a down feed or an up feed.

What I claim as new is:

1. A venting and distributing header having an expansion chamber, a pair of main openings communicating with the interior of said chamber at vertically spaced levels, a plurality of longitudinally spaced distributing openings along each side of said chamber and communicating therewith at a level substantially midway between the levels of said main openings and upper and lower venting outlets communicating with said chamber.

2. A venting and distributing header having an enclosed expansion chamber of elliptical, longitudinal and transverse cross-sectional configuration, a pair of main end openings communicating with the interior of said chamber at levels spaced substantially equidistant above and below the horizontal central plane thereof, a plurality of longitudinally spaced distributing openings along each side of said header communicating with said chamber substantially along said horizontal central plane, and symmetrically arranged upper and lower venting outlets communicating with said chamber at substantially the uppermost and lowermost portions thereof.

3. A venting and distributing header for a hot water heating system which includes a heating boiler and a plurality of heating units, said header enclosing an expansion chamber having domeshaped top and bottom inner walls, a venting outlet communicating with said chamber through each of said top and bottom walls, a pair of main end openings communicating with the interior of said chamber at vertically spaced levels, a set of inclined, longitudinally spaced distributing openings extending along each side wall of said header and communicating with the interior of said chamber at a level substantially midway between the levels of said main openings, the upper of said main openings being adapted to serve as an inlet to said chamber, venting means connected to said upper venting outlet and closure means sealing said lower outlet.

4. A venting and distributing header for hot water heating systems having an enclosed expansion chamber, a pair of main end openings symmetrically disposed above and below the horizontal central plane of said header, a pair of sets of secondary inclined distributing openings arranged one set along each side of said header in longitudinally spaced relationship and communicating with said chamber, said distributing openings adapted to receive pipe connections leading to hot water heating units, the centers of the inner ends of said distributing openings lying substantially in said horizontal central plane, and a pair of venting openings, one in the top and the other in the bottom of said header whereby said header may be used in a position such that said side openings are inclined upwardly, or in an inverted position with said side openings inclined downwardly, the upper of said main end openings in either position having a main pipe connected thereto, the lower of said main end openings having a closure plug therein, and the top venting opening being connected to an air vent while the bottom venting opening is sealed by a closure plug.

HERMAN M. GOHEEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 579,865 Elder Mar. 30, 1897 708,606 Wixted Sept. 9, 1902 782,353 McClellon Feb. 14, 1905 786,838 Poole Apr. 11, 1905 866,842 Comstack Sept. 24, 1907 1,059,907 Rock Apr. 22, 1913 1,147,664 Ward July 20, 1915 1,198,918 I-Iolmberg Sept. 19, 1916 1,538,049 Mack May 19, 1925 2,082,403 Larkin June 1, 1937 2,441,204 Nusbaum May 11, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 500,331 Great Britain of 1939 

